Wisconsin Participation in the Global Petroleum Show

Wisconsin's Trade Office in Canada will again be coordinating one-on-one appointments for Wisconsin firms visiting the Global Petroleum Show, the premiere showcase for the latest in technology in exploration, production, and transportation which takes place in Calgary, Alberta June 10-12, 2008. On January 31 the Stateline World Trade Association (SLWTA) will present a program in Beloit on current business opportunities presented by Canada's booming oil and gas industries.

More than 60,000 visitors and 1,600 exhibitors from around the world are expected to attend the Global Petroleum Show in Calgary. While the show covers markets around the world, the Province of Alberta is a key market for Wisconsin firms because of its massive reserves of oil and natural gas, second only to Saudi Arabia. Alberta leads North America in crude oil production. Canada also has significant, untapped natural gas reserves and is the world's 3rd largest producer of natural gas. In the last five years, nearly $25 billion has been allocated to Albertan oil sands development. Over $150 billion in new projects are in the development and sourcing phase for this region, covering the next 10 years. Because of the extreme labor shortages and manufacturers reaching maximum capacity, the province is actively looking beyond its borders to find suppliers to meet critical needs in sectors like:

• specialty welding and boutique steel;
• structural steel, pressure vessels, tanks and heat exchangers;
• turbines and pumps for petrochemical applications;
• forging suppliers supplying valves, wear materials and pressure fittings;
• logistic and transportation solutions;
• industrial maintenance services/products;
• instrumentation and control systems; and
• related environmental equipment.

Robert Moore, partner at QGI Consulting in Edmonton, Alberta and Bill Werra of Sentry Equipment, Inc. will be speaking at the monthly meeting of the Stateline World Trade Association (SLWTA) on January 31st at the Belwah Café, 500 Pleasant Street, Beloit. The program will start with a networking session at 5:30 pm with dinner at 6:15 pm followed by the presentation. Mr. Moore will discuss the massive impact that development of the oil sands in Alberta has had on the region. His experience includes: market forecasting as due diligence for acquisitions, industry cluster competitiveness, and issues related to rail transportation policy and operations. Mr. Werra will share his firm's experience providing design services and producing sampling equipment for the oil sands industry. He will cover the growth Sentry has experienced in the market, the demands of the client base, and the nuances of the region's business culture.

To register for the SLWTA program in Beloit, please call Tom at (262) 785-1981 or Carla at (715) 887-2133, or send an e-mail to info@slwta.org. Cost of the program is $25 for members, $30 for non-members, and $15 for students with School ID. Registration must be made before Tuesday, January 29th. For more information about the Global Petroleum Show, or the Canadian market in General, contact the Department of Commerce's Canadian Specialist, Mr. Stanley Pfrang, stanley.pfrang@wisconsin.gov, ph: (608) 2670-639.

-- Stanley Pfrang